Canopy frame or support.



Patented Aug. l4, I900.

J. T. JOHNSON.

CANOPY FRAME 0R SUPPORT.

(Application filed Feb. 5 1900.)

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rrED STATES JACOB T. JOHNSON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CANOPY FRAME OR SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,873, dated August14., 1900 Application filed. February 5, 1900. Serial No. 4,056- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB T. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Canopy Frame or Support, of which thefollowing is specification.

This invention relates to canopy frames or supports; and the object ofthe same is to construct a cheap, durable, neat,.and easilyhandleddevice of this character, which will not tear the netting, and of suchform as to permit the latter to be quickly removed or applied, and alsocapable of being reduced or folded into the smallest possible space forshipping and other purposes.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved canopyor support as it will be arranged in its preferred form, andillustrating the several parts operatively united. Fig. 2 is a top planview of the improved canopy frame or support, showing the partsdisconnected. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts ofthe canopy frame or support more closely arranged as they will bedisposed when reduced to compact form for storage and shipping. Fig. 4is a section on the line 4. l of Fig 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalelevation of portions of the improved device, showing the manner-ofconnecting the same. 7 Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of parts ofthe device, showing a-modified form of construction. Fig. 7 is aperspective View of a modified form of the canopy or support.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, ,3, 4, and 5, the numeral 1designates two longitudinal side rods bent near their ends, as at 2, toprovide angular extremities 3, the latter being disposed in planes atright angles to the side rods and in the same horizontal It ispreferable that the extremities be disposed at right angles and alsothat the side rods 1 bebent midway the ends thereof, as at 4., toprovide seats which preferably project inwardly and downwardly below thehorizontal plane of the side rods, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, toreceive the opposite extremities of a central cross-rod 5, havingterminal eyes 6 large enough to slip over the side rods 1 or to permitthe latter to be drawn therethrough and disconnected therefrom orassembled in operative relation in the eyes, as shown by Fig. 1, thesaid crossrod having an intermediate loop 7 for the attachment of asuspending device. When the eyes 6 are in the seats of the side rods, aflush fitting is produced in all directions, and particularly along theouter portions of the said rods as well as the upper parts of thelatter, to thereby avoid the formation of a vertical or lateralprojection at the point where the cross-rod is normally fixed inrelation to the side rod in each instance, with the advantageous resultof having the netting fall closely over the joints and present a neatand graceful appearance. Interposed between the inwardly-directedangular extremities 3 of the side rods are removable end rods 8, whichare connected to the said extremities 3 by sleeves 9 long enough to setup apositive and reliable articulation between the said end rods and theextremities. In most of the structures it will be desirable to have thesleeves 9 freely slidable on the end rods 8 and over the angularextremities 3, yet it may be preferred, mainly for convenience inshipping and under other conditions, to have one or both sleevessecurely fastened on the terminals of the end rods 8 and projected farenough from the latter to provide receptive sockets for the reception ofthe angular extremities 3, and in the arrangement where one of saidsleeves is fast and the other up to one angular extremity 3 and thearticulation of the several parts completed by moving the loose sleeveover the contiguous extremities at the other side in a manner similar tothe employment of loose sleeves on both sides.

In Fig. 6 another mode of attaching the cross-rods 5 is shown andconsists in forming depending eyes 10 in the side rods 1 andscrewthreading the same, as at 11, the opposite eyes having thescrew-threads running in dif* ferent directions to removably receive theloose the fast sleeve will be first connected opposite right and leftscrew-threaded terminals 12 of the cross-rod. This construction willafford means for very quickly connecting the side rods and Withoutrequiring the movement of the cross-rod over the side rods, as in theform heretofore set forth.

The device as thus far described can be quickly set up in operativecondition or parts disassociated and brought together in reduced closerelation for storage or shipment and as clearly indicated by Fig. 3, andthe cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum in View of the fact thatstock already in the market may be utilized for thispurpose and severedinto proper lengths. It is only necessary to give the side rods theproper bend at the extremities and intermediate points or to constructthreaded eyes therein and to also properly shape the cross-rod in viewof the several constructions set forth.

In Fig. 7 a modified form of the frame is shown and embodies the sameprinciple in the main, with the additional feature of collapsibility toreduce it in extent for convenience in storage or shipment, andcomprises two frames 13 and 14, having their inner extremitiestelescopically joined, the inner extremities 15 of the frame 13 havingseats 16, formed therein similar to those heretofore described inconnection with the side rods 1, to receive the opposite bent terminals17 of a cross-rod 18, having anintermediate suspending-loopv 19. Theseparts may be assembled in any suitable manner, and while this form ofthe improved device cannot be produced at as small cost as thatheretofore set forth, yet it embodies the same main principle of firmlyattaching the cross-rod within the contour, exteriorly considered, ofthe frame.

In all of the forms set forth the ends of the cross-rod to whichthesuspending device isciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. Acanopy frame or support comprising side and end rods detachablyconnected, the side rods being provided with intermediate seats and acentral cross-rod for suspending the frame or support having itsterminals removably attached to said seats formed in the side rods.

2. A canopy frame or support comprising side and end bars detachablyconnected, the

side bars having inwardly-deflected seats formed therein, and a crosssuspending-rod having looped terminals removably fitted in the saidseats and slidableon the said side bars.

3. A canopy frame or support comprising side rods having seats midway ofthe length of the same and inward angularly-bent extremities, end rodsremovably interposed between the said bent extremities and connected tothe latter, and a cross suspending-rod having eyes at the oppositeterminals adapted to he slipped over the side rods to and from the seatsand normally fitted snugly in the latter.

4. A canopy frame or support comprising side rods having seats midwaythe length thereof in the form of depending inwardlydirected obliquebends, end rods removably connected to said side rods, and a suspendingcross-rod having its opposite terminals removably fitted in the saidseats.

5. A canopy frame or support comprising side rods'having angularly-bentextremities and central depending inwardly-deflected oblique bends toform seats, end rods removably interposed between the angularly-bentextremities of the side rods, and a suspending cross-rod having oppositeterminal eyes removably fitted in the said seats.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB T. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. HYER, J. M. WALKER.

